About the Far North

The Far North is a beautiful, largely undeveloped and important part of our province. The value of its forests, wetlands, lakes, and resources is almost impossible to calculate. Because of its size and ecological significance, the Far North is vital to all Ontarians. The area sequesters carbon, provides habitat for species at risk and is key to a sustainable global environment.

The Far North spans the whole width of Northern Ontario, from Manitoba in the west, to James Bay and Quebec in the east. It covers more than 40 percent of the province - some 450,000 square kilometres.

The Far North includes the Hudson Bay lowlands - the third largest wetland in the world. It has many unique and sensitive ecological features and is considered to be a globally significant natural environment.

Polar bears, snow geese, beluga whales, and wolverines live in the Far North, along with hundreds of other animal and plant species.

The Far North is home to more than 24,000 people living in 36 communities of which the majority are First Nations people. The Government of Ontario is proud to be working in partnership with Nishnawbe Aski Nation and Far North First Nations to protect this valuable part of the province.

The Far North Planning Initiative will protect more than 225,000 square kilometres of forest and wetland, keeping it safe for future generations to enjoy, and preserving its unique climate change-fighting properties.

The Far North & Climate Change

In Ontario, the Far North is one of our best weapons against climate change. The vast Far North Boreal forest, peatlands, wetland and tundra absorb and store greenhouse gases in trees, soil and peat. The Far North of Ontario absorbs more than 12.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the air each year and stores 97 billion tonnes of carbon.

The climate-change fighting effects of the Far North Boreal forest, peatlands, wetland and tundra benefit the people of Ontario, and people all over the world. That's why the Government of Ontario has declared that it's protecting some 225,000 square kilometres of the Far North.

Ontario's plan, which protects more than half of the Far North, will also ensure that the water, plants and animals that make the area so valuable are protected.